ICSE Solutions and Questions Answers for The Muslim League Class 10 History
We are going to learn the ICSE Solutions of sixth chapter of the History textbook of Class 10. The name of the chapter is The Muslim League. All types of questions including very short answer type, short answer type, structured questions and questions based on picture perception has been provided. This ICSE solutions for The Muslim League will help the students in learning the chapter outcome.
| Name of the chapter | The Muslim League |
| Subject | History and Civics |
| Topics covered |
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| Related Readings |
Very Short Questions
Answer
The British rulers treated the Muslims with suspicion after the Revolt of 1857 because they felt that the Revolt was led by the Muslims.
OR
Why did the British believe in the policy of Divide and Rule in India?
Answer
The British believed in the policy of Divide and Rule because they realized that if both the communities fought against each other, the British could go on ruling India.
Answer
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan established The Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh.
Answer
The All India Muslim League was formed on 30th December, 1906.
7. Why did the British rulers treat the Muslims with suspicion after the Revolt of 1857?
Answer
The British rulers treated the Muslims with suspicion after the Revolt of 1857, because they felt that the Revolt was led by the Muslims.
8. Who established the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh?
Answer
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan established The Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh.
9. Why did the British encourage separatist tendencies among the minority community?
OR
Why did the British believe in the policy of Divide and Rule in India?
Answer
The British believed in the policy of Divide and Rule because they realized that if both the communities fight one against the other, the British could go on ruling India.
10. Give a reason for the establishment of the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental Defence Association in 1893.
Answer
The Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental Defence Association was established in order to counter the growing influence of the Congress.
11. Who started the Ahrar Movement?
Answer
Maulana Mohammad Ali, Hakim Ajmal Khan and Mazhar-ul-haq started the Ahrar Movement which was assertive and national.
12. On whose persuasion was the Muslim deputation constituted to meet the Viceroy Lord Minto at Shimla?
Answer
Mr. Archibald, the Principal of Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College, (M.A.O. College), Aligarh, encouraged the Muslim deputation to meet the Viceroy at Shimla.
13. Who convened the Mohammedan Education Conference in Dacca?
Answer
Nawab Salimullah of Dacca convened the Mohammedan Educational Conference.
14. Give one reason why Nawab Salimullah of Dacca convened the Mohammedan Educational Conference.
Answer
Nawab Salimullah wanted to infuse among the Muslims the idea of establishing a Central Mohammedan Association to look after the interest of the Muslims in general.
Short Answer Questions
Answer
The British treat the Muslims harshly immediately after the uprising of 1857 because they held them guilty of Revolt of 1857. The Congress, which started as an All-India Organisation to create a broad based freedom struggle, twined into major force in the struggle for independence. Thus, the British tried to appease Muslims in order to counter Congress. They began to follow the policy of Divide and Rule to sustain their rule in India.
2. How did the Hindi-Urdu controversy become an important factor in the formation of the Muslim League?
AnswerAnswer
Answer
Lord Minto committed himself to give separate electorates to the Muslims and to safeguard their political rights and interests. This was done by Lord Minto to the deputation which met him in 1906 under the leadership of Agha Khan. The British imperialists encourage the foundation of the Muslim League because they thought that it would keep the Muslims away from the Congress.
5. What is meant by Separate (Communal) Electorates?
Answer
Separate (Communal) electorate means that the Muslims would vote for Muslim candidates and the Hindus for the Hindu candidates. Hence, communities were to serve as the basis for representations.
6. What was the Lucknow Pact?
AnswerAnswer
Answer
(i) To promote loyalty towards the British.
(ii) To prevent Muslims from participating in any political Movement
Answer
Answer
In the First World War, Turkey had to fight against the Great Britain. The Turkish ruler was a Caliph or religious head of the Muslims. Therefore, Muslims all over the World made a common cause for encouraging Anti-British feelings. This was the International event which brought the Muslim League and the Congress closer.
11. Name the leaders of the Congress who played a significant role in bringing the Congress and the Muslim League together.
AnswerAnswer
Answer
(ii) Greater Representation in Civil, Military and Judicial Services.
Answer
(ii) Lord Minto, the Viceroy received a deputation of Muslims at Shimla in October 1906, and assured the Muslims that their political rights would be safeguarded.
Answer
Answer
Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and Waqar-ul-Mulk (Vikar-ul-Malik) of Muslim leaders were linked with Muslim League.
18. State any two objectives of the Muslim League.
Answer(i) To promote among Indian Muslims feeling of loyally towards the British Government.
(ii) To protect the political and other rights of the Muslims and to present before the government their aspirations in Early Nationalists language.
Structured Questions
(a) Any three factors that led to the formation of the Muslim League in India.
(b) Any three demands made by the Muslim Deputation in 1906 to the Viceroy Lord Minto.
(c) What were the aims and objectives of the Muslim League?
Answer
(a) (i) Loss of Sovereignty by Mughal Rulers: The British established their supremacy in India after dethroning the Mughal rulers who were the followers of Islam. Therefore the Muslims became bitter enemies of the British. The British Government consciously discriminated against the Muslims holding them responsible for the uprising of 1857. However the British sowed the seeds of dissensions between the two communities.
(ii) British Policy of Divide and Rule: To check the growth of a United National feelings in India and to encourage communal and separatist tendencies in Indian politics they decided to follow the policy of Divide and Rule. To make this policy successful they tried to spread communal hatred through the press, posters, literature and public platform.
(iii) Rise of Radical Nationalism: Some of the actions of the Radical Nationalists marked a step back in respect of the growth of National Unity. For example, the propagation of Shivaji and Ganpati festivals by Tilak, Aurobindo Ghosh's concept of India as mother and nationalism as religion and initiation of the Anti-Partition agitation with the dips in Ganga did not appeal to the Muslims.
(b) (i) Representation of the Muslims in elected bodies on the basis of their political importance and not in their numerical strength.
(ii) Reservation of seats for Muslims in the State Services.
(iii) More state and for promoting new Muslim Universities,
(iv) Separate electoral constituencies for the Muslims.
(c) Aims and objective of the Muslim league were laid down as under:
(i) To promote, among the Muslims, support for the British Government and to remove any misconceptions regarding the intention of the Government in relation to Indian Muslims.
(ii) To protect and advance the political rights and interests of the Muslims and to represent their needs and aspirations to the government in mild and moderate language.
(iii) To prevent the rise of feelings of hostility between the Muslims of India and other communities.
2. The growth of communalism in India was encouraged by the British authorities as well as certain trends in Indian society. In the light of this observation, explain:
(a) The Divide and Rule Policy of the British.
(b) The writings and speeches of the Assertive Nationalists.
(c) The erroneous interpretation of Indian History.
Answer
(a) The Divide and Rule Policy of the British : During the Revolt of 1857, Hindus and Muslims had fought shoulder to shoulder against the British. The British rulers believed that the revolt was inspired by Muslims who wanted to revive the Mughal empire. Thus, British suppressed Muslims by denying them recruitment in the civilian offices and army. After 1870, British changed their attitude towards Muslims, when Congress gained force. Henceforth, they started the policy of Divide and Rule with a twin aim to keep Muslims aloof from the Congress and to sustain their own rule in India. Britishers took upon themselves the role of the champions of the Muslims cause. Thus, more and more Muslim young men looked to the British for the protection of their interests against the Hindu majority. Consequently, it paved the way for All India Muslim League to counter Hindu majority Congress.
(b) The writings and speeches of the Assertive Nationalists. When the Indian youth saw that the strategy of making public speeches, holding processions and agitations had no effect on the English, out of desperation they took to terrorism. They took the path of show and shell. The Partition of Bengal and the atrocities committed by the Government on the anti-partition agitations further added fuel to the fire. The terrorists remained more active from 1907 to 1914, though their movement continued till the independence of the country. Militant Nationalists ignored the achievements of Akbar and Sher Shah Suri while singing the praise of Shivaji and Rana Partap.
(c) The manner in which Indian History was interpreted in those days contributed to the growth of communal thinking among the Hindus and the Muslims.
(i) Some British and communal Historians divided Indian history into the Hindu and the Muslim periods. The rule of Turks, Afghans and Mughals was called the Muslim rule, where the rulers were said to be the followers of Islam and their subjects, the followers of other religions. In the so-called Hindu period, Muslim rulers were dubbed as foreign invaders who had settled in India. They portrayed Rana Pratap and Shivaji as national heroes and Akbar and Aurangzeb as foreigners and infused communal feelings.
(ii) The British and communal Historians ignored the notion of a composite culture in India and tried to create a rift between the two communities. They failed to interpret that the diversity was primarily class-wise and region-wise and not religion-wise.
(iii) Some communal Historians highlighted the myth the Indian society and culture had reached great heights during the ancient period but was declining during the medieval period which was dominated by Mughal rulers. They did not give much importance to the contribution of the medieval period to the development of Indian economy, religion, art, literature, culture and society.
(iv) The communal bias was propagated through poetry, drama, novels, short stories, newspapers, etc.
3. With reference to the Lucknow Pact, answer the following questions:
(a) Mention two factors that led to the signing of the Lucknow Pact in 1916.
(b) Mention two main clauses of the Pact.
(c) What was the impact of the pact.
Answer
(a) The greatest achievement of the World War I period was the Lucknow Pact between the Congress and the Muslim League. Following factors can be attributed for the pact:
- New Objectives of the Muslim League: Initially the league aimed at promoting loyalty towards the British. But, in 1913, it amended its constitution, and agreed with Congress on the goal of self-government.
- International Events: International Events also distanced the League from the Government. In the First World War, Turkey had to fight against the Great Britain. The Turkish ruler was a Caliph or religious head of the Muslims. Therefore, Muslims all over the World made a common cause for encouraging Anti-British feelings.
- A Compromise between the two factions of the Congress: Mrs. Annie Besant made efforts to reunite the two wings of Congress viz. the Early Nationalists and the Aggressive Nationalists. Thus, Tilak and his followers rejoined the Congress in 1914.
- Efforts to bring settlement between the Congress and the Muslims League: By 1913, the League had become more liberal under the leadership of Abul Kalam Azad and Muhammad Ali, who favoured cooperation with the Congress. This change was further accelerated by leaders like-Dr. Ansari, Maulana Shibli and others. Lucknow Session of 1916. In December 1916, the Congress and the League held their session at Lucknow. The significance of the Lucknow session was that a joint scheme of Reforms later known as the Lucknow Pact, was formally adopted at Lucknow.
(b) The main features of the Lucknow Pact were as follows:
- Four-fifths of the members of the Provincial legislatures were to be elected and one-fifth nominated. The Proportion of Muslim members in the provinces was large like 50% in Punjab and 40% in Bengal.
- The Imperial Legislative Council should consist of 150 members. Out of these, four-fifths to be elected and 1/5th nominated.
- Making of war and peace treaty, were excluded from the control of the Imperial Legislature.
- Half of the members of the Viceroy's Executive Council should be Indians, elected by the elected members of the Imperial Legislative Council.
- Provinces should be given a large measure of autonomy in their respective spheres.
- No Legislative Council, Imperial or Provincial shall proceed bill concerning, any community if 3/4th of the members of that community oppose on the ground that it would adversely affect their interests.
- The Council of the Secretary of State for India operating from England, should be abolished.
- Executive officers should have no judicial powers entrusted to them.
- Unity: It brought the Hindu and the Muslim unity which was the need of the hour. It also brought Aggressive and Moderate leaders at the same platform.
- Strengthening of the National Movement: The unity between the Congress, the League and between the Moderates and the Aggressives demoralised the Government of India. Now, the Government was under pressure for constitutional reforms. This helped in strengthening the National movement.
(a) The British policy of divide and rule.
(b) The Partition of Bengal.
(c) The efforts of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.
Answer
(a) During the Revolt of 1857, Hindus and Muslims had fought shoulder to shoulder against the British. The British rulers believed that the revolt was inspired by Muslims who wanted to revive the Mughal empire. Thus, British suppressed Muslims by denying them recruitment in the civilian offices and army.
After 1870, British changed their attitude towards Muslims, when Congress gained force. Henceforth, they started the policy of Divide and Rule with a twin aim to keep Muslims aloof from the Congress and to sustain their own rule in India. Britishers took upon themselves the role of the champions of the Muslims cause. Thus, more and more Muslim young men looked to the British for the protection of their interests against the Hindu majority. Consequently, it paved the way for All India Muslim League to counter Hindu majority Congress.
(b) The Anti-Partition Movement witnessed a united front against the Government. However, the British was eager to prevent the Muslim from joining the national struggle. It soon won over Nawab Salimullah of Dhaka, and as days passed by, more and more persons from the Muslim upper class came under the influence of the British. On the whole, Government tried to secure the support of Muslims on the ground that the new province would be Muslim majority region. Thus, this new factor was to have a drastic effect on relations between the two communities.
(c) Sir Syed Ahmad Khan who once was the supporter of Hindu Muslim unity and called them two eyes of the beautiful bride (India) now began to arouse a communal feeling. Economically, Politically and educationally backwardness in Muslims made Sir Syed Ahmad Khan think of a separatist body for Muslims to protect their rights and interests and to remove economic backwardness. So Mohamedan Civil Rights Association was set up to demand for nomination of higher posts for Muslims, to minimise the entry of Muslims into national movement and to keep away from Congress and Hindus and also to preach them to remain loyal to British Government. Indian Patriotic Association was also based on the above lines.
(a) Founding of the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental Defence Association in 1893.
(b) Communal viewpoint in History textbooks.
(c) Economic backwardness of India.
Answer
(a) Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, wanted to strengthen the British rule in India and check the rise of National Movement among the Muslims. In 1893, he took the lead in the establishment of the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental Defence Association. The Associated aimed at preventing Muslims from participating in any political movement. Thus, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was successful to a great extent in keeping Muslims away from the Hindus, the Congress and the National Movement and in this way, he incited communalism in India.
(b) Indian history was presented by the British Historians in such a way as to arouse and foster communal feelings among the Indians. The British divided the Indian history into Hindu and the Muslim periods. In the Hindu period, they dubbed the Muslims as foreign invaders who settled as conqueror. In the Muslim period they identified the Muslims as rulers and the Hindu as subjugated people. By exposing and playing aloud, the cruelties of individual rulers, the English historians tried to create hatred between the two communities. The fact that Muslims had enjoyed complete religious freedom in the non-Muslim states of the Rajput, Marathas and Sikhs was not emphasized.
(c) The economic backwardness of the country also contributed to the growth of communalism. The economic conditions in India were marked by slow industrial progress, acute poverty and unemployment. Hence, there was intense competition for the existing jobs. Far-sighted Indians knew the solution for economic ailments lay in the independence while others thought of the policy of Reservation. In other words, they wanted reservation in jobs on the basis of various communities and castes. Muslims wanted greater representation in civil, military and judicial services. Thus, the communal sentiments grew out of economic distress.
(a) The demands made by the deputation.
(b) The formation of the Muslim League.
(c) The aims and objectives of the Muslim League.
Answer
(a) A Muslim deputation led by Aga Khan firstly demanded that Muslims must get due representation in the Provincial as well as Imperial Legislative Councils through separate electorates.
Secondly, the representation should be based on their position in India rather than on numerical strength.
Thirdly, they demanded due representation of Muslims in Municipal and District boards along with senate and the syndicates of Indian universities. Fourthly, they demanded for greater representation in Civil, Military and Judicial services. Lastly, they asked for help in founding a Muslim University which would be a centre of religious, cultural and intellectual life.
(b) The formation of Muslim League: The success of the Muslim deputation to the Viceroy motivated the Muslims to start a separate political organisation. Nawab Salimullah of Dacca (Dhaka) took the initiative. In December 1906, when eminent Muslim leaders assembled at Dacca (Dhaka) in connection with the Mohamedan Educational conference, he arranged a meeting to consider such a proposal. The proposal to form a central organisation for Muslims was accepted and a political association All India Muslim League was set up on December 30, 1906 under the Presidentship of Nawab Salimullah.
(c) The Muslim League, a central organisation of Muslim was founded with these objective:
- To promote feeling of loyalty among the Muslims towards the British Government. Also, to dissipate the misconception hatched by the British for the Indian Muslims.
- To protect the political and other rights of the Muslims and to place their needs and aspiration before the Government in mild and Early Nationalists language.
- To prevent the rise of any feeling of hostility between Muslims and other communities, without affecting the aforesaid objectives of the league.
(a) The rift caused by the Hindi-Urdu controversy, 1900.
(b) The movement against the Partition of Bengal, 1905.
(c) The suggestions made by Archibald on the content of the Address to be presented to the Viceroy.
Answer
- The Address should begin with a proclamation of loyalty to the British rulers.
- There should be an expression of fear that the general system of elections would harm the interests of the Muslims, as they were in minority in the country.
- They should ask for some system of 'nomination or 'representation on the basis of religious belief.
(a) Sir Syed Ahmad Khan.
(b) Principal Beck.
(c) Lord Minto.
Answer
(a) Sir Syed Ahmad Khan: Sir Syed Ahmad Khan who once was the supporter of Hindu-Muslim unity and called them two eyes of the beautiful bride (India) now began to arouse a communal feeling. Economically, Politically and Educationally backwardness in Muslims made . Sir Syed Ahmad Khan think of a separatist body for Muslims to protect their rights and interests and to remove economic backwardness. So, Mohamedan Civil Rights Association was set up to demand for nomination of higher posts for Muslims, to minimise the entry of Muslims into National movement and to keep away from Congress and Hindus and also to preach them to remain loyal to British Government. Indian Patriotic Association was also based on the above lines.
(b) Principal Beck : Mr. Beck, the Principal of M.A.O. College brought about a great change in Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. He tried to instigate the communal sentiments among the Muslims. He advised the Muslims to remain away from the Hindus, the Congress and the National Movement. He also advised them to support the British Rule in India and receive Western education. He began to support communalism and Aligarh became the centre of communalism. He also made Sir Syed Ahmad Khan think on communal lines.
(c) Lord Minto: Lord Minto, the then Viceroy of India, planned to detach an important section of the Muslim Community from the danger of joining the Congress. He made the best use of the fear of the Muslims and kept them away from the Congress by promising concessions to them. Lord Minto gave a favourable reply to the demands of Agha Khan and the Indian Council's Act of 1909 popularly known as the Minto-Morley Reforms was passed. The system of separate electorates sowed the seeds of communalism in the country between the two community.
Picture Based Questions
1. Identify the person in the picture and answer the following questions :
(a) What were his views regarding Hindu-Muslim unity ?
(b) What role did he play in the formation of the Muslim League?
(c) State the impact of the Muslim League on the National Movement.
Answer
(a) Sir Syed Ahmad believed that since the Hindus formed the majority of the Indian population, they would dominate the Muslims in case of a withdrawal of the British rule. He felt that the continuance of British rule was a "guarantee for the welfare and progress of the community." Therefore, he declared that if the educated Muslims support the British, the latter would reward them with Government jobs and other special favours.
(b) Sir Syed Ahmad Khan think of a separatist body for Muslims to protect their rights and interests and to remove economic backwardness. So Mohamedan Civil Rights Association was set up to demand for nomination of higher posts for Muslims, to minimise the entry of Muslims into national movement and to keep away from Congress and Hindus and also to preach them to remain loyal to British government. In this way, the influence of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan ultimately led to the formation of the Muslim League in 1906.
(c) Impact of the Muslim League on the national movement:
The impact of Muslim League on the National Movement was very much discouraging. The policy of Muslim League weakened the National Movement as it differed from that of Hindus. The Muslim League did not support the Swadeshi and Boycott movements. It was a great supporter of British policies as these policies would improve the lot of Muslims by giving them a few concessions. In spite of Gandhiji's opposition, the Muslim League got India divided into Hindustan and Pakistan.